A cricket umpire disqualified for allegedly bringing the game into disrepute in Hong Kong is suing the chairman of the umpires' association for defamation.

Hugh Tyrwhitt-Drake, a former honorary secretary of the Hong Kong Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers (HKACUS), has lodged a writ in the High Court alleging the association's chairman, Glyn Hartley-Davies, defamed him earlier this year.

At issue is a letter Mr Hartley-Davies circulated on May 18 in which he outlined the factors that allegedly led to Dr Tyrwhitt-Drake's expulsion.

The fracas has its origins in a controversial end to a Saturday plate final played between Lamma and Kai Tak cricket clubs which Dr Tyrwhitt-Drake helped umpire.

The HKACUS received a letter of complaint on the handling of the match and the controversy has, say sources within the cricket community, snowballed from that point.

Dr Tyrwhitt-Drake claims he has been defamed by allegations that he brought the game into disrepute through a response to the letter of complaint that he circulated to certain members of the Hong Kong Cricket Association.

He is seeking unspecified damages and an injunction preventing the HKACUS from repeating the allegations, or any similar claims, contained in the letter.